In 2019, the Federal Government awarded a grant of $90,000 to Healesville CoRE to be used to install solar panel systems on three community buildings in Healesville. Over 2021 and 2022, Healesville CoRE, with the assistance of Yarra Ranges Council, duly installed three systems on the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre, the Healesville Living and Learning Centre, and St Brigid’s Primary School. But rather than just pay for these systems and walk away, Healesville CoRE set up a revolving fund. Under this arrangement, the funding of each system was treated as an interest-free loan where the end client repays the loan to Healesville CoRE using the savings made on their power bills. Once the loan is repaid, they have ownership of the system and get the full benefits of the solar system from then on. This arrangement allows Healesville CoRE to recover the money to re-use on other, similar installations. Hence, the Revolving Fund.
The first installation took place at the Robyn Jane Children’s Centre in February 2021, with 56 solar panels lifted onto the rooftop while Healesville CoRE volunteers watched with great excitement. Given the estimated annual savings of around $4000, the interest free loan should be paid within 7 or 8 years. The Centre will then enjoy a further 20 to 25 years of free solar electricity.
Our local paper covered the event and you can read about it here (top of page 9).
Only a few months later, Healesville Living & Learning Centre was the next group to benefit from the scheme. This community organisation provides a space for classes and activities to help participants build skills, make friends and connect to further work, study and volunteering opportunities, so it was a pleasure to help them reduce their ongoing costs through decreased power bills.
Finally, at the end of 2022, St Brigid’s Primary School became the third recipient of the original scheme, installing 71 solar panels rated to produce a total of 32.6 kW of power.
The accumulation of funds from the three loans allowed us to fund another community group, and in July 2024, our local Yarra Valley FM Community Radio Station came on board. They decided to include a 5KW battery with their 8KW of panels, to make best use for the running of radio equipment day and night. They too, are now benefitting from significantly reduced power bills. You can read about it in our local newspaper here (page 4 bottom).
We are excited to announce that we are now working with a fifth group – the Healesville Lion’s Club. Their website states that they are volunteers with a passion for helping others and making a difference in the community – very similar to us at Healesville CoRE! Solar panel installation is due to take place early in 2026, and they will soon be working towards owning the system outright and reaping all the savings benefits. Here’s to seeing yet more solar on roofs in our town!
